Canines perish in mobile home fire

Thursday

Jun 27, 2013 at 3:04 PM

Firefighters rescued 20 dogs from a burning mobile home Thursday, but two canines died in the fire, and two others were later euthanized.

By Austin L. MillerStaff writer

BELLEVIEW — Marion County Fire Rescue workers were able to rescue 20 dogs from a burning mobile home Thursday afternoon, but two canines died in the fire and two others were later euthanized.The owner of the home at 12060 SE 87th Terrace in Belleview was not there when the fire erupted.T.J. Richmond, a neighbor, said he came home from running errands and saw smoke coming from the vents of the home and called 911.Brothers Joshua Colon, 15, and Brian Colon, 16, also neighbors, said they smelled fire and rushed to the home.MCFR spokeswoman Jessica Greene said that as firefighters went into the home and began dousing the blaze, they saw cages with dogs inside them. Some of the firefighters grabbed the cages and took them outside.The Colon brothers said they helped firefighters remove the dogs.All 24 dogs were inside the home.Greene said firefighters believe the fire may have started in the kitchen and that it was non-suspicious in nature.The county's animal shelter was notified, and workers arrived to help with the canines.Elaine McClain, a public information specialist for Marion County, said there were 24 dogs on the property and that two died in the fire and two others were euthanized at the animal shelter after suffering severe respiratory distress.McClain said the dogs were various breeds, including boxers, Labrador retrievers and Dachshunds. She said some of them were treated for respiratory problems and that many of them were still being evaluated by veterinarians at the shelter.McClain said that since 2010, the county has responded to the home seven times to complaints about dogs running loose, excessive barking and unsanitary conditions, and officials found the complaints to be unfounded.Officials did not immediately release the name of the homeowner.Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.